Stump speech excerpt on Human Rights for Ex-Offenders

I gave a draft stump speech at my April campaign meeting…the first time I’ve ever given a prepared political speech for my own candidacy. ?It was a little nerve racking – we had a good crowd (which you’ll hear at the end of the second segment, which is crunching now). ?This is the segment on Human Rights for Ex-Offenders. ?Go easy on me….I’m running on training wheels at the moment.

OK “tom”. Fair enough. Most people, when referring to Tim's “background” are not talking about the positive stuff. Knee jerk reaction on my part. I think he has also thought through the political parts of this as well, as have I. I think it is actually the only way to go about things – owning his past and using it as an issue he can talk about positively on the campaign trail rather than trying to fly it under the radar and having it “come out” again for the umpteenth time.

Let me just give my thoughts on the speech. If I'm not mistaken I was there. The essence of what was being said was pitch perfect. Good writing of course since the candidate also happens to be a fantastic writer. The delivery is what needed to get smoother – and granted this was the first time it was tried out on an audience. Less reading. More connecting.

I personally love the message. We have to be willing to let those who made mistakes and seek redemption do so. We should also realize that people (individually and collectively) should not be perpetually defined by their mistakes.